Switches



Aug. 16, 1960 H. J. GLUECKSTEIN ETAL 2,949,511

swncass Filed Feb. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r m INVENTOR.

Hzunv J. Gwccus N Kun-r S-r PH u. I Y M I TTOINIY 1960 H. J. GLUECKSTEIN ET AL 2,949,511

SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 I INVENTOR. HENRY J. G ens-um,

Lu: Kurr S'rrn AH QQNIV United States Patent Ofiice Patented Aug. 16, 1960 SWITCHES Henry J. Glueckstein, Brookfield, and Kurt Stephan, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Globe-Union Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 714,385

9 Claims. Cl. 200-11 This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a switch having a rotor with printed circuit conductors adapted for switching a plurality of circuits.

It is the object of this invention to provide a switch of this type which is compact, versatile and inexpensive to manufacture.

The switch includes a circular rotor having a plurality of spaced, radially extending printed circuit conductors on both faces thereof. The conductors on one face are angularly offset to permit connection thereof to the conductors on the opposite face by a conductor passing through the rotor. The rotor is mounted in a stator having a plurality of radially arranged contact clips for switching a plurality of circuits as the rotor is rotated in the stator.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a switch embodying the present invention with the inner end portion of one clip broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch with the inner ends of three clips broken away;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch rotor; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the switch rotor.

This invention is adaptable for use in a great variety of applications wherein a plurality of circuits are to be switched. The switch shown in the drawings and described hereinafter shows just one of the many contact arrangements possible in a switch embodying the present invention.

The switch includes a laminated rotor assembly rotatably mounted in a central opening 12 of a stator 14. The laminated rotor (Fig. 2) includes a plurality of spacer discs 16 sandwiched between a pair of thin outer discs 18 and 20, and held in concentric relationship by rivets 22 or other suitable means, such as eyelets or staking. The diameter of the two middle spacer discs is less than that of the outer spaced discs forming a channel into which the edge of central opening 12 extends to retain the rotor in the stator.

An operating shaft (not shown) for rotating rotor 10 can be mounted in openings 23 in spacer discs 16 and supported by structure mounted on stator 14 by means of openings 25 therein. A plurality of switch units could be mounted on a single operating shaft for multiunit applications.

A plurality of elongated clips 24 and a short clip 26 (Fig. l) and a plurality of short clips 26 (Fig. 3) are fastened to opposite sides of stator 14 by eyelets 27 or other suitable means, such as rivets or staking. The clips are of standard design having a double layer or leaf construction with projections 28 extending into openings 30 in the stator to prevent misalignment and terminal portions 32 adapted for connection to circuit conductors (not shown) or electrical components (not shown) such as coils, resistors, capacitors, etc. The clips are radially arranged in a circle with the clips on opposite sides of the stator spaced intermediate each other. The inner ends of the clips are bent and rounded to provide oppositely facing resilient double wiping contacts 33 for contact with the rotor contacts as hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 2, the peripheral edges of outer discs 18 and 20 of the rotor are adapted to slide between clip contacts 33 as the rotor is rotated. Switching is accomplished between the clips mounted on the stator by a plurality of conductors 34 and 36 rigidly adhered to the surfaces of outer discs 18 and 20, respectively. Outer end portions 38 and 40 (Figs. 4 and 5) of conductors 34 and 36, respectively, serve as contacts for sliding engagement with contact portions 33 of the clips. The contact portions 38 and 40 are equally angularly spaced in a circle with the contact portions on one outer disc spaced intermediate those on the other disc. Conductors 36 are angularly ofiset as at 42 so inner end portions 44 thereof will be aligned with inner end portions 46 of conductors 34. The aligned end portions 44 and 46 are connected by rivets 22 or other suitable means, such as eyelets or staking, which, it should be noted, serve not only to hold the rotor assembly together but also to electrically connect adjacent conductors 34- and 36 on opposite sides of the rotor.

In the particular embodiment shown, disc 18 (Fig. 5) has a contact ring 48 on the periphery thereof (connected to conductor 34a) for continuous contact with the one short clip 26 mounted on the top side of stator 14 (Fig. 1). The rotor is assembled so that rivet 22a from conductor 34a does not make contact with a conductor on disc 2f (Fig. 4). The significance of this contact arrangement will be apparent from the description of switch operation which follows:

Discs 18 and 20 are made from an insulating material such as a paper base phenolic. A metal foil, normally copper, is then laminated to the insulating material. The desired conductor configurations are then obtained by removing the metal foil from where it is not wanted by any suitable printed circuit method. The conductors can be silver or nickel-rhodium plated for better electrical qualities and where extra long life is required.

The switch operates as follows: Contact clips 24 and 26 (Figs. 1 and 3) have been lettered AX for purposes of explanation.

In the rotor position shown (Figs. 1 and 3) clips A, C, E, G, I, K, M, O, Q and S are connected by conductors 34, rivets 22, and conductors 36 to clips X, B, D, F, H, J, L, N, P and R, respectively. Clip U is connected by conductor 34a and ring 48 to clip W. Clip W is the electrical termination point for contact ring .3. This remains through 360 degrees of rotation. Clips T and V are out of circuit.

With rotor 10 (Fig. 1) rotated 30 degrees clockwise, clips A, C, E, G, I, K, M, O, Q, S and U are connected by conductors 34, rivets 22, and conductors 36 to clips X, B, D, F, H, J, L, N, P, R, and T, respectively. Clips V and W are out of circuit.

With rotor 10 (Fig. 1) rotated 60 degrees clockwise, clips C, E, G, I, K, M, O, Q, S and U are connected by conductors 34, rivets 22, and conductors 36 to clips B, D, F, H, I, L, N, P, R and T, respectively. Clip A is connected by conductor 34a and ring 48 to clip W. Clips V and X are out of circuit.

With rotor 1i (Fig. 1) rotated degrees clockwise, clips A, E, G, I, K, M, O, Q, S and U are connected by conductors 34, rivets 22, and conductors 36 to clips X, D, F, H, J, L, N, P, R and T, respectively. Clip C is connected by conductor 34a and ring 43 to clip W. Clips V and B are out of circuit.

The remaining positions follow the same switching sequence as above with the common ciip VJ being connected alternately to clips E, G, I, K, M, O, Q and S as the clockwise rotation of rotor 11 is continued.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be ap parent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A switch comprising, a first sheet of insulating material having an edge, a plurality of contacts mounted on one side of said first sheet spaced along the edge of said sheet, a plurality of contacts mounted on the other side of said first sheet spaced along the edge between said contacts on said one side of said first sheet, means for electrically connecting adjacent contacts mounted on opposite sides of said first sheet, a second sheet of insulating material having an edge adjacent the edge of said first sheet, a plurality of contacts mounted on one side of: said second sheet spaced along the edge thereof, a plurality of contacts mounted on the other side or" said second sheet spaced along the edge thereof between the contacts on said one side of said second sheet, said contacts on said second sheet adapted to contact said contacts on said first sheet to complete circuits between adjacent contacts mounted on opposite sides of the second sheet as said first and second sheets are moved edgewise relative to each other.

2. A switch according to claim 1 in which said first sheet is a disc-shaped rotor and said second sheet has a circular opening therein in which said rotor is mounted.

3. A switch according to claim 1 in which said means for electrically connecting adjacent contacts on opposite sides of said first sheet includes conductors rigidly adhered thereto extending from said contacts transversely of the edge of said first sheet, the inner end portions of the conductors on one side of said first sheet being angularly offset so that the inner end portions of the con-- ductors interconnecting adjacent contacts will be aligned with each other.

4. A switch according to claim 3 in which said aligned conductor end portions are electrically connected by a conductor passing through said first sheet.

5. A switch according to claim 4- in which the outer end portions of said conductors are the contacts on the first sheet.

6. A switch comprising, a stator having a central opening therein, a disc-shaped rotor mounted for rotation in said opening, a plurality of separate rotor contacts mounted on opposite sides of said rotor, said rotor contacts arranged in a circle with the contacts on one side of said rotor spaced at angular positions intermediate the contacts on the other side of said rotor, a plurality of stator contacts mounted on opposite sides of said stator and adapted to make contact with said rotor contacts as said rotor is rotated, and means for electrically connecting pairs of adjacent contacts mounted on opposite sides of said rotor independently of the other pairs of adjacent rotor contacts, said means including conductors rigidly adhered throughout to the sides of said rotor and extending radially inwardly from said rotor contacts, said inner end portions of said radially extending conductors on one side of said rotor being angularly oifset so that the inner end portion of each conductor on said one side of said rotor will be aligned with an inner end portion of a conductor on the other side of said rotor.

7. A switch according to claim 6 in which said aligned conductor end portions are electrically connected by a conductor passing through said rotor.

8. A switch according to claim 7 in which said rotor contacts are the outer end portions of said radially extending conductors.

9. A switch according to claim 6 in which the rotor has a conductor ring rigidly adhered to one side thereof adapted for continuous contact with one or more of said stator contacts.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,731 Todd Apr. 7, 1936 2,177,481 Hall Oct. 24, 1939 2,177,483 Hall Oct. 24, 1939 2,423,152 Mitchell July 1, 1947 2,549,998 Allison Apr. 24, 1951 2,616,994 Luhn Nov. 4, 1952 2,649,513 Luhn Aug. 18, 1953 2,828,393 Wingard Mar. 25, 1958 

